The Champagne Dreambuilder Retreat
Eight days in the heart of France to dream, design and begin the life you were made for.
Seven guests. Three guides. One 1860 manoir.
“There are only two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle, the other as though everything is.”
Two places, one journey.
From the cathedral city of Reims into the rolling hills of the Côte des Bar.
Reims — where it all begins
i. Days 1 – 2
Cathedrals, kings, and the cellars of the world's most coveted houses. Your first three nights anchor here, in the city where Champagne was born.
Côte des Bar — where it deepens
ii. Days 3 – 8
South, into the older wines and the quieter villages. The 1860 manoir, the bend of the Seine, the long evenings — five days of slow, deep work.
An 1860 manoir where time slows.
Limewashed walls, oak floors, a fireplace in every common room. Hand-numbered guest chambers, a long table that seats all seven, and gardens that wake before you do.
The Manoir
A historic estate of charm, warmth, and elegant simplicity — your sanctuary between sessions, meals, and morning meditations.
Shared Table
Evenings gather around a long table for nourishing, nutrition-conscious meals that honor the body-mind philosophy of the retreat.
The Setting
A mile in any direction, rows of Pinot Noir stretch to the horizon — a daily reminder that greatness is cultivated slowly.
Three movements. One arc.
Blueprinting
Three days of inner archaeology. We map what is essential, what is borrowed, and what is genuinely yours to build.
Bridging
Two days of unfreezing — the body, the breath, the inherited beliefs that have stood between you and the life you sense.
Building
Three days of concrete design. You leave with a plan, a 90-day path, and a circle that knows your name.
Three guides, one circle.
Virginie
DREAMBUILDER · 25 YEARSFounder of the retreat. A quarter-century of guiding people across thresholds, with the warmth of a French host and the rigour of a lifelong practitioner.
Alexandre
SOMMELIER · VIGNERONBorn in the Côte des Bar. Your guide to the houses, the cellars, the soil — and the philosophy of patience that Champagne demands.
Nicolas
BODY + BREATHSomatic practitioner. The nervous system reset that makes the inner work possible. Mornings begin in his hands.
Six moments. One rhythm.
Breath at the orchard
Coffee, blanket, the slow waking of the day. Optional, always.
Morning session
Group work. Inner mapping, journaling, the deep questions of the chapter.
Long lunch
At the table. All seven. Local wines paired by Alexandre.
Field afternoon
A cellar visit, a vineyard walk, a private 1:1, or rest — by the day.
Evening apéritif
Champagne on the terrace. The day softens.
Closing circle
A poem, a silence, a sentence each. The hush of the house at night.
The shape of real intimacy.
Small enough to know each other
By the second evening, you know the others’ stories. By the fourth, the names of their children.
Big enough for collective insight
Seven perspectives is plenty. You will be surprised by what is mirrored back.
One table — every meal, every voice
No breakout rooms. No anonymous corners. Every voice has weight.
A single price. Everything included.
Founders' Pre-sale — Cuvée 2026
Seven seats only · Closes 30 days from launch-
Eight nights at the 1860 Manoir
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All meals + wine pairings
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Three master Champagne house visits
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Six group sessions + two private 1:1s
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Round-trip transfer Paris → Manoir
Schedule your discovery call.
Every guest is welcomed with a personal conversation before booking — no pressure, only genuine listening. Three short questions; we’ll be in touch within 48 hours.
Questions, quietly answered.
Who is this retreat actually for?
Anyone at a meaningful threshold — a career inflection, an empty nest, a long-postponed dream, a chapter that wants to begin. You don’t need a clear answer to come; you need a real question.
I've never done anything like this. Will I be out of place?
Most of our guests are first-timers. The group is curated for warmth and range. The work is contemplative but never woo — practical, grounded, French in its restraint.
What level of group sharing is expected?
You set your own depth. Some guests speak often; others mostly listen. Every voice is welcomed; no voice is required.
Do I need to speak French?
No. The entire programme is in English. Alexandre and Virginie translate any French moments — menus, cellar visits, village conversations.
What's included beyond the listed inclusions?
Airport transfers (Paris CDG → Manoir, round-trip), all on-site activities, all wines, all 1:1 sessions, a leather-bound journal, and a follow-up call 90 days after you return.
What is NOT included?
International airfare to Paris, travel insurance (we strongly recommend), and any à la carte spa treatments at the partner village house.
Can I extend my stay before or after?
Yes — Virginie can recommend small hotels in Reims, Troyes, and the Burgundy border. Several guests every cuvée stay an extra weekend.
What is the refund policy?
Deposit ($800) is non-refundable but transferable to a future cuvée or to a person you nominate. Balance is fully refundable up to 60 days before arrival, 50% up to 30 days, then non-refundable.
Why pre-sale pricing? What's the catch?
Founders pricing recognises the trust of guests booking before our first cuvée has run. No catch — same retreat, same inclusions, $1,575 less. Closes when seven are taken or 30 days, whichever first.
What happens on the discovery call?
A relaxed 30-minute conversation with Virginie. She asks where you are; you ask whatever you like. No pressure to decide on the call. If it feels right, we hold a chambre for 72 hours while you choose.
Your seat is waiting.
Seven chambers. One conversation. Begin where you are.
The Champagne Dreambuilder Retreat
An intimate 8-day transformational immersion in the heart of France’s most storied wine region.